My dad has a 6 thousand gallon outdoor pond and we're looking at the possibility of getting some algae eaters. Here's a topic about it:http://www.fishforums.com/forum/fish...llon-pond.html
The pond has plenty of brown algae on the bottom, rocks, everything is slimy with the stuff, to the point that the water is brown and you can't see the bottom. We're looking at also treating the water for it but we'd like to introduce some algae eaters. The pond isn't really overtaken by the stuff, it seems to stay in ballance but we'd like a tad bit clearer water.
But there's a catch. We have 5-year old koi in there that spend the winter in the pond. Is there an algae eater that can survive year-round in there? We simply don't have the means to keep them indoors, not to mention trying to catch them

do they make pond heaters? Because if they do, get a common pleco and get that heater in there. Plecs are pretty hardy fish, and just keep it over 45 degrees at least in the winter and he should survive...

You could do some sort of snail....I'm pretty sure they would do the trick as long as they don't MULTIPLE LIKE CRAZY! (like pond snails, those mo fos) Maybe mystery snails can be in really cold temps? Cuz if they can, they are big and awesome. Hehe. But then again you have to find a snail that loves algae....

Mystery snails definitely cannot survive very cold conditions, but there's a snail that's fairly similar that can: a trapdoor snail. Read all about them here:http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Bug,...20Trapdoor.htm
I don't know where to buy them in the US; perhaps the shop in the link can sell you some?

He said that's not an option. He's looking for something to survive throughout the winter.
Trapdoor snails might not be a bad idea but by planting your pond, you reduce alot of the algae. Floating plants such as water hyacinth and water lettuce as well as oxygenators like anacharis help out a lot.

WOW that shark is 40 bucks plus shipping...i could get 20 neons for dat much! but really if he sells a few koi he can pay for it-theres an idea-sell some koi to by a heater then u could get a pleco if u want!

WOW that shark is 40 bucks plus shipping...i could get 20 neons for dat much! but really if he sells a few koi he can pay for it-theres an idea-sell some koi to by a heater then u could get a pleco if u want!

you can't put a price on a fish that does its job,, thats the coolest thing I have seen.
take a look at good quality discus prices let alone SW fish prices.
I agree on the plant route,, I am doing water lettuce, water hyacinth,water sprite, large duckweed,najas,, I don't know if the water sprite and najas will survive in my temps but if they do woohoo.
wish you luck with this I know my ponds always have algae